CONDENSERS

The condenser is the system component

responsible for rejecting system heat
Condensers reject both latent and
sensible heat
Water-cooled condensers are more
efficient than air-cooled condensers
Somecondenserscanbemechanicallycleaned
whileothersmustbecleanedchemically
 TYPES:
WATERCOOLEDCONDENSERS
Tubewithinatubecondenser
Shellandcoilcondenser
Shellandtubecondenser
AIRCOOLEDCONDENSERS

EVAPORATECONDENSERS
 More efficient than air-cooled condensers
Water temperature can be maintained
Water temperature directly affects system

pressures
Three types of water-cooled condensers

Tube within a tube condenser

Shell and coil condenser
Shell and tube condenser
 Heat exchange takes place between the
fluids in the inner and outer tubes
Refrigerant flows in the outer tube
Water flows in the inner tube
Refrigerant and water flow in opposite
directions to maximize the heat transfer rate
Depending on the construction, the
condenser can be cleaned mechanically or
chemically
 Tube within a tube condenser has end flanges
Flanges are removed to access the water
circuit
The refrigerant circuit remains sealed while
the water circuit is open
The mechanically cleanable tube-in-tube
condenser is more costly than the chemically
cleanable version of the condenser
 Coil of tubing enclosed in a welded shell
Water flows through the coil
Refrigerant from the compressor is discharged
into the shell
The shell also acts as the receiver
When refrigerant comes in contact with the
cool coil, it condenses and falls to the bottom
This condenser must be cleaned
chemically
ShellandCoilCondenser

Shell Hotdischargegasfrom
compressor
Watercoil Dropletsofcondensed
refrigerant

Warmwaterout Coolwaterin

Bottomofshellacts
asareceiver Subcooledliquidfromcondenser
 Can be cleaned mechanically
Compressor discharge gas is piped into the shell
Water flows through the tubes in the condenser
The ends of the shell are removed for cleaning
The shell acts as a receiver
Refrigerant circuit is not disturbed when the ends

of the shell (water boxes) are opened

Most expensive type of condenser
 Hotdischargegasfrom
Shell WaterTubes
compressor

Warm
waterout

Coolwater
in
Bottomofthecondenser Subcooledliquidfromcondenser
actsasthereceiver
 Device used to remove heat from the water
used in recirculated water systems
Towers can cool the water to a temperature

within 7F of the wet bulb temperature of the

air surrounding the tower
If the wet bulb temperature is 90 degrees,

water can be cooled to a temperature as low

as 83F
Natural draft, forced draft, or evaporative
Hotwaterin(95F) Fanmotor

Airin95Fdry
bulb,78Fwet
bulb
Airout

Cooledwaterout(85F)
 Redwood, fiberglass or galvanized sheet metal
There are no blowers to move air through the

tower
Natural breezes move air through the tower
Water enters the tower from the top and is

cooled as the water falls to the bottom

Some water evaporates in the process, helping to

cool the remaining water in the tower

Additional water is added through a float valve
 Use a fan or blower to move air through the
tower
As the water falls through the tower, air is
moved across it to aid in the cooling process
Can be located almost anywhere
The fan is cycled on and off to maintain the
desired water temperature
Forced draft Air is pushed through the tower
Induced draft Air is pulled through the tower
 Designed to operate full of liquid
A latent heat transfer takes place throughout the
coil
Coil efficiency is maximized
Other devices must be used to prevent liquid
from entering the compressor
Normally use a float-type metering device to
keep the liquid level in the coil high
 Uses air to absorb heat rejected by the system
Used in locations where water is difficult to use
Horizontal, vertical, or side intake and top
discharge
Hot gas enters the condenser from the top
For standard efficiency systems, the refrigerant
will condense at a temperature about 30F higher
than the outside ambient temperature
 R-134a medium temperature refrigeration system
Outside air temperature 95F
Condensing temperature 125F (95F + 30F)
From P/T chart, high side pressure is 184 psig
Discharge refrigerant from the compressor at
200F
Refrigerant must desuperheat from 200F to
125F
Refrigerant will begin to condense at 125F
Liquid refrigerant subcools below 125F
CALCULATINGSUBCOOLING Refrigerant R-134a

CONDENSER SUBCOOLING = 125 F 110 F = 15 F

REFRIGERANT
ENTERING THE
184 psig (125F)
COIL

OUTLET TEMP = 110 F

REFRIGERANT
LEAVING THE COIL

CONDENSER SATURATION TEMPERATURE = 125 F

 Have larger surface areas than standard
condensers
Allow systems to operate at lower pressures
Allow systems to operate more efficiently
Can operate with head pressures as low as

10F higher than the outside ambient

temperature
 Condensing temperatures drop when the
outside ambient temperature drops
The condensing pressure must be at least 75
psig higher than the evaporator pressure in
order for the metering device to operate
properly
Low ambient controls
Designed to maintain the desired head pressure
Needed on systems that operate year-round
 SUMMARY
Condensersliquefyvaporsby
removingtheirlatentheat.
Thelatentheatisremovedby
absorbingitinacooler
liquid(coolant).